Zidane: I dream of managing Real Madrid

January 14, 2010

France legend Zinedine Zidane has revealed that he would one day like to manage Real Madrid, and has also praised the impact of the club’s current star, Cristiano Ronaldo.

Zidane, now working as an advisor to Real president Florentino Perez, admitted in an interview with Iznews in China that he has enjoyed life back at the Bernabeu since re-joining the club seven months ago.

“It is a great pleasure to work alongside Florentino Perez, who wants to make another team make history,” Zidane said. “Right now, I am learning and Florentino has given me great freedom to learn all the aspects of Madrid. My dream, some day, is to be manager of the club.”

The 1998 World Cup winner hailed the impact of world record signing, a tag the Frenchman garnered himself after moving from Juventus to Real for €78 million in 2001, Cristiano Ronaldo.

“He fascinates me as a player and it surprises me that he adapted to the Spanish League so quickly,” Zidane said.

“I feel that is a special player, because with his belief, he has infected the rest of the team. It is almost inconceivable all that Cristiano has achieved already, at his age.”

Zidane, widely considered the best player of his generation, was also happy to heap praise on Real’s bitter rivals Barcelona, and the current FIFA World Player of the Year, Lionel Messi.

“I really like Iniesta, for his collective sense of play,” the Frenchman added. “But Messi is special, there is only one. When he gets the ball, everyone knows what is sure to happen: that the ball will finish in the opponent’s goal.”

Former playmaker Zidane played a pivotal role in France’s World Cup victory in 1998, scoring two goals as Les Bleus beat Brazil 3-0 in the final.

But ‘Zizou’ believes that 2008 European Championship winners Spain will be the team to beat at this year’s finals in South Africa.

“I have always thought that they will be the champions” Zidane added.

“I love how they play. It reminds me of France in Euro 2000, who came out champions. It will be difficult to stop them and it will be great if they come up against Portugal or Brazil in the second round.

Tags: Barcelona, bernabeu, best player, bitter rivals, brazil, championship winners, China, cristiano ronaldo, euro 2000, fifa world player, fifa world player of the year, France, heap praise, iniesta, les bleus, lionel messi, MADRID, pivotal role, portugal, real madrid, ronaldo, seven months, South Africa, Spain, spanish league, world cup victory, world cup winner, zinedine zidane

Cristiano Ronaldo wins FIFA World Footballer of the Year

January 12, 2009

ZURICH (AFP) – Manchester United and Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo was on Monday named FIFA World Footballer of the Year for 2008.

Ronaldo, who is also holder of the prestigious Ballon d’Or for the European Footballer of the Year, beat off competition from 2007 winner Kaka (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Fernando Torres (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

"It’s an overwhelming moment in my career and I’d like to dedicate this award to my family, friends and colleagues," he said.

Ronaldo went out of his way to heap praise on United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, with whom relations became strained during last summer over whether he was going to leave the club for Real Madrid.

"It’s also true that the manager always has an important role to play," said Ronaldo.

"It was a great season for me and for my club, and the coach was important for me because I learned a lot from him.

"His experience over so many years is of paramount importance – it’s a privilege to have such a great club manager.

"This is the climax of a fantastic era for me. I’m happy and proud about what has been done by my team and what we have won.

"I am lucky to be part of the history of a club like Manchester United."

The 23-year-old, scorer of 42 goals in all competitions in the 2007-8 season, was one of United’s architects behind the club’s English Premiership and Champions League double.

It was not a perfectly scripted year for Ronaldo, however, as Portugal crashed out 3-2 to Germany in the quarter-final of Euro 2008 in June.

Ronaldo becomes the second Portuguese player to win the FIFA accolade after Luis Figo in 2001, and the first one playing for a British club.

He reaped 935 points in the vote in which the coaches and captains of 155 national teams took part. Messi finished second (678 points) and was trailed by Torres (203), Kaka (183) and Xavi (155).

Brazilian midfielder Marta was unveiled as FIFA World Women’s Footballer of the year for 2008, for the third year running.

Marta delivered an outstanding performance at the women’s Olympic football tournament in Beijing 2008, and equalled the record set by Birgit Prinz by claiming her third consecutive title.

For the women’s vote, 139 coaches and captains cast their vote and Marta won comfortably (1,002 points) ahead of Germany’s Prinz (328), Brazil’s Cristiane (275), Germany’s Nadine Angerer (198) and England’s Kelly Smith (150).

Written by: AFP